Description
This is a set of three silicone ice block moulds, each with four cavities, supplied with 90 wooden sticks for $39.58. That is twelve ice blocks per batch across three different shapes, and enough sticks to get through roughly seven and a half full batches before you need more.
The sticks are the part people underestimate. Most ice block moulds arrive with either a set of reusable plastic handles that have to be washed between every batch, or no sticks at all - and a mould you cannot use until you have been back to the shop is a mould that stays in the drawer. Ninety wooden sticks means you can fill all twelve cavities on a hot afternoon, hand them out, and fill them again the same evening without washing anything but the tray. It is also why these work for a party in a way that a four-cavity mould with four plastic handles does not.
Specifications
| Quantity |
3 moulds plus 90 wooden sticks |
| Cavities |
4 per mould - 12 in total |
| Shapes |
Building block, calabash and plain |
| Material |
Food grade silicone |
| Temperature range |
-40C to +230C |
| Size |
19cm wide, 2.1cm deep, 2.5cm high |
| Weight |
120g |
| Care |
Dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer safe |
What's in the Box
| 1 x |
4 cavity silicone mould - building block shape |
| 1 x |
4 cavity silicone mould - calabash shape |
| 1 x |
4 cavity silicone mould - plain shape |
| 90 x |
Wooden sticks |
Why Silicone Rather Than Hard Plastic
-
They pop out - flexing a silicone cavity releases an ice block in seconds, where hard plastic needs a run under the hot tap that half melts it.
-
Three shapes, one set - children pick a shape, which does more for whether they actually get eaten than the flavour does.
-
90 sticks included - seven and a half full batches before you need to buy anything.
-
-40C to 230C - the same trays make baked treats, set jelly or chocolate, not just ice blocks.
-
Dishwasher safe - and silicone does not hold fruit staining the way soft plastic does.
How Do You Stop Homemade Ice Blocks Going Icy?
Ice crystals form when the mix is mostly water and freezes slowly, so the fix is to change one or both. Adding something with body - a spoonful of yoghurt, coconut milk, or a little honey or sugar syrup - interferes with crystal formation and gives a softer set. Straight fruit juice will always freeze harder than a juice and yoghurt blend. The other lever is speed: the colder the freezer and the further from the door, the finer the crystals, so the back shelf beats the door every time. And do not fill to the very brim, because the mix expands as it freezes and will push up around the stick.
When Should You Put the Sticks In?
After about an hour, not at the start. Push a stick into liquid and it floats, tilts, or ends up sitting at an angle that makes the finished ice block awkward to hold. Freeze the mix until the top has set to a slush - usually 45 to 90 minutes depending on your freezer and the mix - then push the sticks in to the depth you want and return the tray. They will stand up on their own and set straight. If you have overshot and the mix is solid, warm the tip of the stick under the tap and it will still go in without cracking the surface.
Can You Use These Moulds for Anything Other Than Ice Blocks?
Yes, and this is where the temperature range earns its keep. Silicone rated to 230C goes in the oven, so the same trays make small baked bites, set chocolate, make jelly, freeze stock or leftover herbs in oil, and portion baby food. The shaped moulds in particular get used for chocolate more often than for ice, because a moulded shape releases perfectly from silicone. One caveat worth knowing: silicone is a poor conductor, so anything baked in it browns less on the sides than it would in metal - fine for soft bakes, less good if you want a crisp edge.
Buyers are typically parents heading into summer who want something cheaper and less sugary than shop-bought ice blocks, people with a birthday party or a school fete to cater for where twelve at a time matters, and anyone making frozen treats for small children where controlling the ingredients is the point. A second group buys them for chocolate and jelly work rather than ice at all.
See our kitchen and dining range, kitchen gadgets for more tools, children for party ideas and summer for the rest of the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ice blocks can I make at once?
Twelve - three moulds with four cavities each.
Are the sticks included?
Yes, 90 wooden sticks are supplied with the set.
What are the three shapes?
A building block shape, a calabash (gourd) shape, and a plain shape.
Can they go in the dishwasher?
Yes. They are also microwave, oven and freezer safe, rated from -40C to +230C.
How long do ice blocks take to freeze?
Typically four to six hours for a full set, depending on your freezer and the mix. Put the sticks in after about an hour, once the surface has gone slushy.
Will they take flavour or colour from what I freeze?
Food grade silicone resists staining far better than soft plastic, though strongly coloured mixes like beetroot or turmeric can tint any silicone over time.
Do the moulds have lids?
No. The set is three moulds and the sticks.
Fast Australian Shipping
We ship from within Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, as well as to regional addresses in every state and territory. Orders are dispatched promptly on business days and tracking is provided once your parcel is on its way.
Measurements are supplied by the manufacturer and may vary slightly between production runs. Wooden sticks are a choking hazard - supervise young children. Silicone can be hot when removed from an oven; use a tray underneath, as a filled silicone mould flexes when lifted.
